Magnetic children&#39;s art frame

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for displaying a child&#39;s art work on a magnetic surface. The apparatus comprising a frame member having each of a predetermined shape, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined size viewing area for displaying such children&#39;s art work, the frame member being formed from a flexible magnetic material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to an art frame, and, moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a magnetic art frame fordisplaying a child's art creations on metallic surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Children are always bringing home art work that they have done inschool. Parents generally have a great desire to display this art workbecause they are proud of what their children have done. Children alsoare very desirous of seeing their creations displayed at home.

These art creations are generally displayed on the refrigerator sincethis is an item that is generally seen by everyone who walks into thekitchen. Many times these papers that are brought home from school aresecured by simple refrigerator magnets and generally these only hold aportion of the paper. In most case these papers with art work are poorlysecured with the assortment of business ad magnets or other such magnetswhich usually require more that one magnet to hold the paper and eventhen the paper is not secured tightly.

Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a means available fordisplaying such art work that the child would enjoy seeing and one thatwould secure the art work to the metallic surface very securely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus fordisplaying a child's art work on a magnetic surface. The apparatuscomprising a frame member having each of a predetermined shape, apredetermined thickness and a predetermined size viewing area fordisplaying such children's art work, such frame member being formed froma flexible magnetic material.

In another aspect the present invention provides an apparatus fordisplaying a child's art work on a metallic surface. The apparatuscomprises a frame member having each of a predetermined shape and apredetermined size viewing area for displaying such children's art workand at least one magnet member disposed on a back surface of said framemember for holding such frame member having the children's art workdisposed therein on such metallic surface.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention isto provide an apparatus for displaying a child's art work on a metallicsurface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatuswherein the apparatus is frame member being formed of a flexiblemagnetic material.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatuswherein the flexible magnetic material is a one piece construction.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatuswherein the apparatus has a viewing area that is 7½ inches by 10 inches.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a frame memberwherein there are predetermined characters disposed on a front surfacethereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a framemember wherein such predetermined characters are selected from animals,cartoon characters, sports equipment, race cars, fire engines orcombinations thereof.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent after a full reading of the following detaileddescription, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attacheddrawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus according to an alternateembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of the back of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 displayedon the door of a refrigerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTSOF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the presentinvention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identicalcomponents which have identical functions have been designated byidentical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated inthe drawings.

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generallydesignated 10, for displaying a child's art work on a magnetic surface.The apparatus 10 comprises a frame member 2 having each of apredetermined shape, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined sizeviewing area 4 for displaying such children's art work, the frame member2 being formed from a flexible magnetic material.

It is presently preferred that such flexible magnetic material for suchframe member 2 is a one piece construction.

The predetermined size of the viewing area 4 is substantially 7½ by 10inches. This size is selected since the common size that is used for themajority of the art work done by children in school is 8½ by 11 and thisallows enough of the paper to be secured and held in place by themagnetic frame.

It is also preferred that the front surface of the frame member 2 haspredetermined characters 6 recognizable by most children disposed onsuch front surface. Such predetermined characters include animals,cartoon characters, sport equipment, race cars, fire engines andcombination thereof. For girls, it is possible that the front surfacehave kittens or puppies or some cartoon characters while for boys suchfront surface may have sports equipment, race cars, fire engines orcartoons. These are just suggestions since the items suggested for boysmay be equally applicable for girls and vice versa. These characters 6can be applied to the front surface of the flexible frame 2 material byscreen printing.

The flexible magnetic material that is used to form the frame 2 ismagnetic sheeting in which the frame member 2 could just be stamped outof this material. The predetermined thickness of such sheeting materialis substantially 0.020 inches.

The children's art work is pinched/held in place between the framemember 2 and the magnetic surface. Such magnetic surface can be one of arefrigerator, metal cabinets, a dishwasher or a stove or all of thesecould be used to display the art work.

In another aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generallydesignated 20, for displaying a child's art work on a metallic surface.The apparatus 20 comprises a frame member 12 having each of apredetermined shape and a predetermined size viewing area 24 fordisplaying such children's art work and at least one magnet member 26disposed on a back surface of the frame, member 12 for holding the framemember 12 having the children's art work disposed therein on suchmetallic surface. It is presently preferred that such at least onemagnetic member 26 covers an entire back surface of the outer portion ofthe frame member 12 as is seen in FIG. 3.

It is also within the scope of the invention that such frame member 12further includes a clear covering disposed within the frame member 12for covering the predetermined size viewing area 24. Such predeterminedsize viewing area 24 is substantially 7½ by 10 inches.

It is also preferred that the front surface of the frame member 22 havepredetermined characters 6 recognizable by most children disposedthereon. These predetermined characters include animals, cartooncharacters, sport equipment, race cars, fire engines and combinationthereof.

While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of thepresent invention has been described in detail above, it should beunderstood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of theinvention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled inthe art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or thescope of the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for displaying a child's art work on a magnetic surface,said apparatus comprising a frame member having each of a predeterminedshape, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined size viewing areafor displaying such children's art work, said frame member being formedfrom a flexible magnetic material.
 2. The apparatus, according to claim1 wherein said flexible magnetic material is one piece.
 3. Theapparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined size viewingarea is substantially 7½ by 10 inches.
 4. The apparatus, according toclaim 1, wherein a front surface of said frame member has predeterminedcharacters recognizable by most children disposed on said front surfaceof said frame member.
 5. The apparatus, according to claim 4, whereinsaid predetermined characters include animals, cartoon characters, sportequipment, race cars, fire engines and combination thereof.
 6. Theapparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined charactersare animals.
 7. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein saidflexible magnetic material is magnetic sheeting.
 8. The apparatus,according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined thickness of said framemember is substantially 0.020 inches.
 9. The apparatus, according toclaim 1, wherein said children's art work is held between said frameember and said magnetic surface.
 10. The apparatus, according to claim1, wherein said magnetic surface is one of a refrigerator, metalcabinets, a dishwasher and a stove.
 11. An apparatus for displaying achild's art work on a metallic surface, said apparatus comprising: (a) aframe member having each of a predetermined shape and a predeterminedsize viewing area for displaying such children's art work; and (b) atleast one magnet member disposed on a back surface of said frame memberfor holding said frame member having said children's art work disposedtherein on such metallic surface.
 12. The apparatus, according to claim1, wherein said at least one magnet covers an entire back surface of anouter portion of said frame member.
 13. The apparatus, according toclaim 11, wherein said frame member further includes a clear coveringdisposed within said frame member for covering said predetermined sizeviewing area.
 14. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein saidpredetermined size viewing area is substantially 7½ by 10 inches. 15.The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein a front surface of saidframe member has predetermined characters recognizable by most childrendisposed on said front surface of said frame member.
 16. The apparatus,according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined characters includeanimals, cartoon characters, sport equipment, race cars, fire enginesand combination thereof.
 17. The apparatus, according to claim 16,wherein said predetermined characters are animals.